Experimental and theoretical evaluation of the membrane affinity to water: role of modifiers in the control of the matrix performance

This work was aimed at evaluating adsorption of water molecules onto membrane surfaces modified by sulphonamide derivates. Controlling interfacial forces at the membrane-feed interface were assessed by combining experimental and theoretical studies. The phenomena experimentally observed were also interpreted by using quantum-chemical and dynamic approaches in order to correlate the membrane affinity to water with the availability and accessibility of polar moieties, enabling to form intermolecular interactions such as hydrogen bonds.